I am looking forward to sending out Mindful Messages as a way to continue to support our growing community of friends who like me are interested in nurturing mindfulness in our lives. My hope is that what I share will encourage and inspire you to continue the journey. Please reply back once in awhile to let me know how what I am sharing has touched you.

Mindfulness of breath is the first technique most mindfulness practitioners learn and it is the one that seasoned practitioners come back to time and time again. Why is that? Mindfulness of breath is something that is always available to us. We don’t need an app, special gear or clothing in order to practice mindfulness of breathing. It is something we can do when we are alone or when we are with people. We can use it at our home, at work or in public; and no one even has to know that we are practicing. It is a technique that we can use anytime, anywhere. However, since it is so fundamental it is important to cultivate the practice by intentionally creating space for it every day as a formal practice. By practicing mindfulness of breath in a formal practice we are training our minds and bodies and we will be more likely to remember the technique at other times of day when we need it most.

I really like the last sentence in this guided meditation. He says, “Pausing for a moment, decide how you’d like to continue with your day.” It’s a good practice to make an intention after our formal practice.

**If at any time you would like to be removed from these Mindfulness Messages emails please just let me know!

**Do you know someone who would like to learn more about Mindfulness? Forward them this information about a eCompass course:Mindfulness 101: Understanding and Experiencing Mindfulness in Education Participants will learn about Mindfulness including Mindfulness in Education through an overview of the research, as well as, through experiential activities to explore mindfulness first hand. We will culminate with ideas on how to sustain a practice in our own lives and in our schools and classrooms. eCompass Course: 91395 Facilitator: Jamie Edwards, Social Worker, Andersen United Alice Kos, Instructional Specialist, Andersen United Ann Viveros, ESL Lead Teacher, Andersen United Time and Location: Option 1 – Tuesday, November 15 from 4:30 – 6:30pm in Davis Center N1-051 Option 2 – Wednesday, January 25 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm in Davis Center S1-433